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10 Things to Think About When Choosing Restaurants on Vacation

Taking a trip to a
foreign destination can be a great opportunity to see the world and taste some
of its fantastic foods. Dining out abroad is a great way to experience the
culture of the country you are visiting and broaden your tastes by trying new
and exciting dishes.

Making the right
decisions can often be intimidating, and you could have your family or fellow
traveling guests relying on you to choose a good restaurant. This quick guide
should offer you plenty of food for thought when eating out in a foreign
country, with ten top tips to stop you picking the wrong place and spoiling
your evening.

Know the Local Cuisine

Anytime you are
traveling somewhere it is worth doing a little research on the local cuisine
and specialties. Food is culture, and if you travel a long distance just to
offer your taste buds the food they are used to, you are missing out on the
chance to taste the world as well as see it. Get online and have a look at what local delicacies you can expect when you go out on the town at your vacation
destination.

Think About Your Fellow Diners

Your fellow travelers
may have special dietary requirements that you should bear in mind. When
traveling with children you should always make sure there is a recognizable
option for them to keep them feeling comfortable. Fortunately, a plate of
French fries is available just about anywhere in the world, and fast food
outlets have spread out to every corner of the world, giving children something
they know and love to eat wherever they are in the world.

Look Online for Reviews

You are never the
first person to travel to your destination, and many people today review
foreign restaurants and post their reviews online for other travelers. There
are many websites that help you. For example, if you are traveling to Marbella
in Spain, you read more about these restaurants, and the site can offer you valuable insights
into what you can expect to find at your holiday destination. Reviews like
these can be very valuable if you are looking for child-friendly places, or to
make sure special dietary needs are provided for.

Ask a Friend or a Guide

You may well have a
friend who has visited your holiday spot before and knows a good restaurant or
two. You may even make a friend while staying at your destination that can
offer good advice, or a friendly worker at your hotel might have some top tips
for your stay. A little knowledge can be a powerful thing, and people love to
share a good restaurant tip so be sure to ask around.

Try to Call Ahead

English is probably
the world’s most widely spoken language, and if you are traveling abroad you
are likely in an area that is used to English-speaking tourists looking for a
place to eat. Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and call a restaurant to
make inquiries. If the first person you speak to doesn’t have great English
skills, the chances are there is someone else on the staff that has the
vocabulary to help you out if you hold the line.

Speak to ‘Ex-Pats’

‘Ex-Pats’, or people
who have emigrated to another country from yours, can be found in just about
every country and major city. You will often find websites and forums online
where these communities exchange information, and you should go and have a look
to see if there is any information about your destination from an emigre. You
may well find this community when you reach your holiday location, and they
will often be happy to help someone from back home find a good place to eat.

Find a Regular Place

It’s a good idea to
always have a good restaurant to fall back on if your plans to go elsewhere
don’t work out. If you find a restaurant that everyone in your traveling party
likes, perhaps something recognizable from home like a local chain outlet, you
should always keep this place in mind if you go somewhere else and don’t like
the look of the menu or the establishment. This way, if you need to find
somewhere in a hurry, you already have a place to go to.

Make Sure You Look Around Too

If you do find a place
you like, don’t get too used to it. Many travelers find a single restaurant and
eat every night there, but this is missing a great opportunity to experience
other tastes, sights, and sounds of the culture you are visiting. Make sure you
look around when you are exploring, and even ask your regular restaurant if
they have any recommendations for different places to eat.

Check Social Media

Social media apps and
sites like Facebook and Instagram can often be a valuable source of information
about your vacation destination. Many apps use GPS technology, so with your
location information, your apps may start recommending local businesses to you
shortly after you land. Sites like Groupon are also invaluable, as they can offer you
details on popular local restaurants as well as discounts and deals.

Buy a Travel Book

It may sound like an
old school solution but finding a place to eat abroad is an old school problem,
so buying a travel book for your destination is often a wise plan. Many people
will have faced the same dilemmas as you, in the same place, and you can learn
from their experiences with a decent travel guide. There are even books
specifically aimed at solo travelers or travelers with young children, to help
you find the right place to dine out abroad.

Eating out when you
are in a foreign country can be intimidating, especially if you have a family
relying on you to make their choice for them. By taking just a few of these
steps you can make sure you get a good taste of your destination’s cuisine,
without wasting a good meal in a bad restaurant.